A/N: I LOVE REVIEWS! Okay, so the reviews for the last chapter of this made me laaaaaaaaugh. The first one told me something along the lines of 'You have problems'. No shit I have problems. I've known that for yeaaaaaaaaars. I'm crazy and luvin' it. Now, if you're referring to the issues that allow me to write things like this I like to call them 'muses' because I LIKE them. And, I don't think they're a problem. (The last part of that witty comeback provided by Conscience. Because seeing sound is sexxy.) The second review asked 'Where is the next chapter?'. Well, I found it! (And by found I mean I finally finished writing it). It's right here! I know, you're astounded at my finding skills. Je trouve chaptaire deux de Redefining Family. Yep, I did just tell you I found this chapter in French! You're jealous. Moving on, Conscience doesn't happen to know that the phrase 'arse over teakettle' is similar in meaning to 'head over heels'. In fact, the two can be used interchangeably. Now, I know you lot (my readers) are much smarter than that but sometimes Con can be a little scatterbrained… Don't worry, I love her anyways. Oh, and the bit about Dumbledore being a manipulative bastard… well, that's my own opinion. I'm sorry if you love him. And cheers to anyone who can figure out who he was visiting.

Disclaimer: Because Cho has yet to die, this still belongs to Jo Rowling. I'm sure you're all devastated, as it were, but I don't have the money or the time to buy this from Jo. Suffice it to say, I shall remain in the world of fan fiction. Unfortunately.

"Oh, hello Lily dear!" Mrs. Potter cried upon seeing the young witch at her doorstep. "James has been in a mood for most of the day. Perhaps you can cheer him up." Mrs. Potter was smiling widely despite all this. Of course, she was just a good-natured, motherly sort of woman in general.

"Hello Mrs. Potter," Lily said as she stepped in.

"EVANS! FIX YOUR BOYFRIEND!" Sirius called from the sitting room. "He's raining on my parade!" Sirius pouted as he entered the foyer.

"Which is your way of saying that Remus is here and you'd rather spend time with your boyfriend than your moody best friend, right?" Lily asked, a knowing glint in her eye.

"You're a smart woman, Evans. Prongsie needs someone like that in his life because he's so stupid." Sirius smirked, knowing full well that James was most likely listening avidly to their conversation.

"Well I need to talk to James in private, if that's okay,." Lily replied, smiling once again at Mrs. Potter and brushing past Sirius. "And Black, I do mean privately. Don't even try anything." Lily smirked, not even looking back at Sirius' defeated look.

When she reached the sitting room she noticed James staring moodily at a book. He wasn't reading it, that much was obvious because she watched him for a good long time and he didn't turn the page. "James," she said softly, picking the book out of his hands and setting it aside. "We need to talk about something."

"You're not breaking up with me, are you?" James asked, staring dejectedly at the floor.

"Of course not," Lily let out a tinkling laugh, knowing it was really, truly true. She hadn't thought before what Severus' words had meant to her before. Now she knew that she was secure enough with herself and her relationship that she knew a fling between the two meant nothing to her. "I love you James Potter, and nothing, nothing is going to change that."

"I love you, Lily," James said with feeling. Lily smiled and kissed him quickly.

"I love you too," she replied, pulling him in for a hug.

"Merlin, those two are sappy!" Lily heard Sirius mutter from just outside the room. With his canine hearing he could probably hear everything they said quite clearly. Lily tiptoed quietly to the wall and pounded exactly where she knew Sirius' ear would be. "GOD DAMMIT!" they heard him shout.

"Stop listening to my personal conversations, Black!" Lily called to him. She then cast a few charms over the room to keep prying ears (and any other body part) out. "He'll never learn…" she muttered.

"It's the Marauders' way," James muttered distractedly. "Why the secrecy?"

"I have to tell you something but you have to promise me, swear on anyone's life to make it honest, that you won't tell anyone. Not even Black. This is important, James." She stared at him sternly.

"How important?" James hated keeping things from Sirius. It was his least favorite thing to do and it always led to a fight.

"Dumbledore ordered it," Lily replied. "I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't really important. I know you hate lying to Sirius." She held his hands as they sat on the couch together.

"I promise," he replied. "I swear on Sirius' worthless life and your beautiful one… and on my mother's life. I won't tell a soul." James looked serious and Lily knew he was. James would only swear on his mother's life if he really meant something. She knew he loved and respected her more than anything in the world.

"All right…" she started. She took a deep breath and continued on. "I saw Severus yesterday." She watched his face grow dark.

"And…" he prompted. She hadn't realized she'd been quiet for so long.

"And, first, Dumbledore told me he was a spy for the good. He's working for us." Lily watched James' disbelief write itself all over his face.

"And then, Severus and I had a conversation about… our friendship…" Lily trailed off.

"Did he hit on you? I swear to god if he hit on you--" James was in a right fury but Lily placed a placating hand on his arm.

"James, he didn't. In fact, he told me about your relationship with him." Lily was choosing every word carefully. She didn't want to upset James too much and she could tell this was a touchy subject.

"What did he say," James asked guardedly.

"That the two of you had once been as close as Sirius and Remus." Lily watched his eyes. "Is that true James."

"Yeah," James sighed. "I'm sorry, Lily."

"It's all right," she said quietly. "It made you a better person, I think." She stared at him adoringly. "And besides you're with me now and obviously not him."

"Yeah, about that…" James looked guilty. "When we first started going out, me and you, that is, it was a cover so people, people who follow societal rules, wouldn't figure out me and him were together." James waited for Lily to explode. She didn't though.

"It's all right James. I understand." She was obviously trying to keep something in. "You fell in love with me, right? You fell in love with me and left him." She watched and waited for him to affirm this. She needed this affirmed.

"Not quite. I, um, didn't leave him until he joined the Death Eaters. That was the last straw," James replied. He would have bet his vault that Lily would explode here but she didn't.

"You really love him, don't you?" she said, tears in her eyes. "I was just the rebound."

"No. I really love you. And it doesn't matter what I feel for him, Lily. He made his choice a long time ago." James looked her in the eyes. "Merlin, Lily, I'm so in love with you even I can't believe it." She smiled at him then.

"I love you too, James."

A few hours later, after a glorious make-out session with his fiancée, James was laying on his bed, going through memories. He was especially stuck on memories of Severus now that his family and Lily had dragged him to the forefront of his mind in the past few days. He recalled the last time they'd spoken to each other.

It was a few years ago and James had just come from an Order meeting. They'd just gotten out of school and James was excited to be actually doing something for the war. The two were meeting at Severus' tiny house. He'd bought it with his own money and James was proud of him.

"Severus," James muttered as he held the slim boy close to him.

"Mmm?" Severus was nestled deeply in the embrace. Too deeply to give an actual response.

"I love you," James said, kissing his head. Severus smiled into James' chest.

"Love you too," he replied.

"Let's make it forever," James said suddenly.

"Make what forever?" Severus asked, raising his head to make eye contact.

"This, us," James gestured vaguely. "I wanna be with you forever."

"What will people think?" Severus asked skeptically. "We've kept this secret for so long so we wouldn't be criticized."

"Screw everyone else. I'm in love, Sev. I don't want to hide it anymore." James was serious. Very serious.

"What about Lily?" Severus gave James a pointed look. "I know you haven't just been stringing her along but yourself as well in that relationship."

"She's pretty. She'll find someone who'll love her." James just shrugged it off.

"James, we can't," Severus insisted.

"There's no reason why not," James replied stubbornly.

"It can't work. Our families will go mad at the thought, our friends…" Severus trailed off. James could tell he was afraid.

"It can work. Family are the people who only want what's best for you; what makes you happy. This is it. And our friends? Your 'friends' may not like it but my friends all know already." James plowed on. "You should ditch those Death Eaters. They're not good for you, Sev. You know that."

"James…" he said quietly, " I just… I can't."

James had cried that day after he'd left. He hadn't cried in ages but Severus, the boy he'd made fun of for crying all the time in school, had made him cry this time. It didn't feel good. In fact, James hated it. He hated everything that day…

James could feel tears in his eyes remembering that day. He didn't know what he wanted. He'd never known what he wanted. He loved Lily and, for all the opposite reasons, he loved Severus. But Severus had made his choice that day. And so, James didn't have to choose. He had Lily and she loved him back. She was going to pledge to be with him 'til death do they part. That made James happy. Someone wanted to spend their whole life with him.

"James!" Lily called as he entered the Order headquarters. Both had been summoned for a super secret meeting with the Order's new spy. She ran and hugged him and he hugged her back tightly. He'd finally just decided that the past was in the past and he wasn't going to worry about it.

"So, why exactly are we here?" James asked her as she latched onto his arm and the walked into Dumbledore's office.

"He didn't even tell me," Severus sneered. All present in the room knew that was how he handled being uncomfortable: making everyone else feel inferior.

"Snape," James nodded toward him. Snape returned the gesture.

"So Severus, did you continue on in potions then?" Lily asked. "You were always so wonderful at them."

"I did," Severus replied easily. "That's actually how I get by. I sell my creations through vendors in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. I'm sure I'm getting robbed blind but I don't particularly mind."

"You seem pleasant," Lily smiled brightly at him.

"As do you," Severus commented.

"Are you flirting?" James asked through gritted teeth.

"Potter, are you insinuating that I would make a move on a woman who's obviously spoken for?" Snape raised an eyebrow to go with his dry tones.

"Yeah!" Lily cried. "Stop being such a stick in the mud-- what is it that Black calls you to piss you off? Prongsie?" She shot a mischievous grin at him.

"I knew I should never have let you near my friends, darling." James pulled Lily closer and kissed the top of her head. She would be feisty either way, he knew. He just liked to tease her.

Then, out of nowhere, the door shut with a loud thud. James went over to it and tried to open it but it was locked. "Shit," he mumbled. "Someone try apparating real quick," he turned to the other two.

"James, how many times do I have to tell you; No one can apparate or disapparate from the headquarters as the protective charms of Hogwarts have been duplicated on the building." Lily sighed.

"And of course he has no fireplace or windows in here," James muttered angrily. "And I highly doubt any of us is willing to risk ourselves and make an illegal portkey."

"You mean to say we're stuck here, Potter," Snape raised an eyebrow.

"Would you stop doing that?" James scowled. Snape raised the eyebrow higher. "DAMMIT!"

"Something wrong, Potter?" Severus asked in mock-pity.

"This is just fan-fucking-tastic," James muttered to himself.

"He needs to collect himself, Severus. Perhaps we should leave him to his thoughts for a while," Lily suggested before steering the taller of the men in the room to the opposite side.

"He's not taking this well," Lily observed. "He was obviously distraught when I last talked to him. Every time you're mentioned he goes into this particular spiral of self-pity." Severus looked down to see angry green eyes glaring up at him.

"I was afraid," Severus said softly. Lily had hardly heard him. Of course, she happened to have strong hearing so she had caught it.

"That's never stopped James," Lily pointed out affectionately.

"He's brave," Snape replied. "I'm just a coward."

"And cowardice breaks hearts," Lily stated emphatically.

"You seemed to have happily just jumped back into our friendship," Snape remarked dryly. Lily could tell he was uncomfortable with the former topic.

"Well, you've finally figured some of it out, Severus," she smiled at him. "And, since you needed a best friend who you can tell ANYTHING I decided that I would fill that post. We here on the light side trust people, Severus."

"You expect me to tell you everything." Severus raised his eyebrow yet again.

"Does James really find that irksome or did he do that out of frustration?" Lily asked quietly.

"Frustration, I should think. He's never said anything about it before." Lily watched Severus lose himself in memories of another time, another place, when things weren't quite so dark for him.

"I'm huuuuuuuuungry," James whined, momentarily himself. If there was one thing that could get James to be himself it was food or lack thereof.

"You and Sirius get in enough trouble I'd expect you to think ahead," Lily had a bemused smile on her face. Sitting in a room for three hours had given the perpetually prepared redhead time to work on wedding planning. Things were really getting down to the wire and she couldn't wait.

"Moony always packs the sandwiches," James pouted. "Like that time we got stuck on the roof. And that time when we got lost in the dungeons. And that time we were locked in the Ravenclaw common room…" James' mind drifted off to his school days.

"Well, I'm sorry but I'm not Remus. I didn't think to pack anything." Lily sounded almost guilty.

"YOU HAVE CHOCOLATE!" James shouted accusingly. He had jumped up and he was pointing a finger at her. Just then, a package hit his forehead.

"Eat that," Severus muttered before going back to studying notes he was taking on a potion he was creating.

"What are they?" James asked, popping one fearlessly in his mouth.

"Chocolate covered raisins," Severus replied distractedly. Lily's face contorted in disgust.

"Ew, raisins are gross! Why waste chocolate on something so nasty?" The redhead looked utterly confused.

"They're a muggle invention," Snape muttered. "Why are you so surprised about it?"

"Because I avoid raisins at all costs," Lily replied haughtily.

"They're just wrinkly grapes," James said with a handful of candy in his mouth.

"Exactly! They make you oooooooooooold!" Lily moaned.

"I think you'll age gracefully, darling, no matter what you eat," James replied with a goofy grin. "Not as gracefully as me for I'll never age, but as gracefully as possible."

Severus looked up and scowled. He knew, just by that look, that James and Lily were quite in love. He knew he had no hope, not an icicle's chance in hell, but he was going to go through with this. He was going to be a spy because he loved James and he didn't need anything more than that. At least, that's what he told himself.

"Am I interrupting something?" Dumbledore asked with an amused grin. All three heads whipped around. Not one of them had seen or heard him come in. Even James, whose hearing was greatly enhanced due to his animagus form, hadn't heard the manipulative old bastard. He had, most likely, also come in from a secret entrance. No telling how much he really liked to astound and surprise people, all things considered.

"Nothing at all, Headmaster," James replied respectfully. He never felt easy around Dumbledore but he knew, knew without a doubt, that Albus Dumbledore was a Good Man.

"How many times have I told you to call me Albus?" the old man chuckled

"Where were you? We've been here ages," Lily complained.

"I was just visiting an old friend in prison." Blue eyes twinkled as he said this. There was the usual amusement but there was also something else. Something deeper down. "You may all leave. I think I've held you hostage for too long.

"There never was a meeting, was there?" Lily accused, fire in her bright green eyes. Dumbledore didn't answer.

"Hmmph," was all Severus said as they all vacated in a single file line.

Lily waved goodbye as James Flooed home. They'd only kissed on the cheek as to not make Severus feel to uncomfortable. Then, she turned to Severus. "We're spending time together, mister, whether you like it or not. Now, where to? My place or yours? Just as forewarning, Petunia's probably home." Lily smiled mischievously.

"Come," Severus dragged her to the apparition spot and they used side-along apparition as Lily had no clue where they were going. Then, Severus led her into his home.

"It's lovely! I want a house just like this!" Lily cooed. "It's so small and cozy!"

"Would you like some tea?" Severus asked calmly.

"Yes please!" Lily chirped happily.

Once they were settled in the sitting room with their tea, the two sat quietly. "You're still head over heels for him," Lily stated. "Arse over teakettle. You're in love."

"I didn't need the clarification," Severus replied glumly.

"Why-- What about-- Why aren't you doing something about it?" Lily scowled at him sternly.

"Because he loves you," Severus replied calmly. "It's enough for me that he's happily in love."

"Oh bugger all!" Lily cried in frustration. "Don't think he isn't still arse over teakettle for you! Why else do you think he's always such a pain in the arse when you're around! Or when you're mentioned!" Lily stared at him exasperatedly.

"You want me to swoop in and steal your fiancé mere weeks before your wedding?" Severus asked skeptically.

"Better than breaking up a marriage, is it not?" Lily stated defiantly.

"And what are you going to do with your broken heart?" Severus asked mildly. "I doubt this friendship would survive that, no matter what you say."

"I'm a big girl. I can fix a broken heart if I have to," she sniffed indignantly.

"It would never work," Severus stated firmly. "We're as dysfunctional as dysfunctional gets."

"All proper families are fairly dysfunctional. There's me and Petunia. Or James and his friends. Severus, nothing's perfect." Lily crossed her arms across her chest.

"Lily, we're never in the same place at the same time. If I'm ready for forever he's off being immature. If he's ready for forever I'm scared out of my mind and in deep shit. Too deep to ever get out fully." He gave her a meaningful look. "It just wasn't meant to be."

"Tell that to the fairy tale writers. I'm personally a big fan so I'm not going to offend them." Lily had made up her mind and Severus wasn't going to change it. He didn't think anyone could.

"You, Lily Evans, are all personality," Severus said, chuckling slightly. Lily brightened Severus' good mood.

"Well, I do try." Her chest puffed out proudly.

"He's yours, Lily. He's happier with you than he could ever be with me," Severus smiled sadly. "He gets his happy ending and, this way, so do you." And then, Severus was suffocated with a hug.

"Now, to get down to business," Lily said after she had, Severus was sure, crushed a few of his ribs. "Are you only into boys or can you get off on girls too?" She raised her eyebrow suggestively.

"You've been spending far too much time with Potter and Black," he drawled.

"Well…?" she asked impatiently.

"Just men," he replied with a sigh. "Though if any of the wrong crowd get wind of that my head will no longer be attached to my body."

"You have my honor that they won't hear a word of this from me," Lily promised. Severus knew she would keep her promise too. Lily was a woman of her word. It was part of the reason she'd become a noble and true Gryffindor.

"Good," Severus replied concisely.

"What's the Lilster up to?" Sirius asked as James came in, still munching on the chocolate covered raisins.

"No idea," James replied

"She's your fiancée and you have no idea what she's up to. What if she's shagging some other man?" Sirius asked with a grin.

"Padfoot, how long have you known Lily?" James gave him a look.

"Since first year ," Sirius replied slowly.

"So you should know, just as well as I do, that Lily wouldn't do something like that. Hell, she and I haven't shagged yet." James pointed this out casually. He watched Sirius' reaction. His eyeballs almost popped out of his head.

"You HAVEN'T?" Sirius blinked a couple times. "Moony and I have been since--"

"Don't want to hear it!" James cried, clapping his hands over his ears.

"Oh come on! You gave me all the gory details the first time you slept with Snape!" Sirius protested loudly.

"You asked," James replied.

"I just wanted to know if sleeping with him was as bad as looking at him," Sirius shrugged.

"You're being insensitive again," James pointed out.

"Moony doesn't mind when I'm insensitive."

"Padfoot, you're hiding right now because you and Moony are in a fight about your insensitivity." James rolled his eyes at his best friend.

"Something happened," Sirius observed, keen to get off the topic of his and Remus' fight. "You were upset earlier, pining for your darling Sevy and now you're not. What happened?"

"Moony told me that he'd be fine if you'd just apologize for being a stupid git," James said, ignoring his friend's question. "Of course, you've always been one so I don't see what apologizing is going to do to change that."

"I mean, I know you're in love with Evans-- you two are so sweet it's sickening-- but you're still in love with Snivellus too. I don't see why but they do say love is blind. Anyways, the point I'm trying to make is that you must've had some closure on the Snivelly front for you to talk so carelessly about it." Sirius, despite being a pain in the arse at the best of times, was annoyingly observant.

"I promised Lily, swore on my mother's life, that I wouldn't tell anyone about it. Even you." James looked guilty. "Look, it's really important that it stays secret or we'll have a huge problem."

"Why?" Sirius asked.

"There's a spy within our ranks. The spy can't know this little tidbit of information that Lily told me because it would mean bad shit would happen to the Order." James tried to use his facial expressions to help convey the importance the secret was.

"You don't think I'm the spy, do you?" Sirius asked, looking slightly hurt.

"No! Of course not! It's just Dumbledore won't be so certain. I wish I could tell you, I really do, but I can't."

"All right," Sirius conceded. "Now, you're going to help me convince Moony to forgive me and forget this silly fight…"

"Are you coming to my wedding, Severus?" Lily asked, hands on hips, when he showed up for dinner at her parents' house. She'd invited him and he was on time, something that didn't shock her in the least.

"Do you really want me to?" He asked dryly, an eyebrow raised. "Wedding's aren't exactly my scene."

"Oh, I'm sure you're more into the punk rock scene. When will I get to see you on stage with your bandmates Booger and Earwax playing music from slightly out of tune instruments?" Lily shot him a look. He was shocked that she could keep a straight face through such a long joke.

"Not only are our instruments out of tune but I'm under the impression that Earwax, our lead singer, is tone deaf. Also, you forgot our electric trombone player, Armpit Hair," Severus replied, his tone as sarcastic as ever.

"I want you at my wedding, Severus," she said sincerely. "And I'm sure James would be happy if you were there as well." She handed him an invitation.

"I'll see if I'm available," he replied. "You know I'd only do this for the two of you."

"Of course. Anyone else and it would be awkward!" she chirped happily. Severus shook his head as he followed her to dinner.

"Ah, Severus! It's been such a long time!" Mrs. Evans greeted him. "You've grown up into such a handsome man. If both my daughters weren't engaged, I'd try to marry them off to you." Her smile was warm and inviting, as always. Severus mused how few things ever really changed.

"Mum, Severus doesn't like girls," Lily informed easily. "So don't you go trying to marry him off to your friends' daughters. Sons, however, are acceptable."

"Lily," Severus hissed.

"It's fine, dear. I'm not as old-fashioned as I seem," Mrs. Evans shot him a knowing smile. "Besides, that Lupin boy Lily's always hanging about with is gay as well. I'm quite used to it."

"You willingly spend time with that mangy-- with Lupin?" Severus asked in a whisper.

"Remus' furry little problem hardly bothers me," Lily replied with a roll of her eyes. "I don't see why it should bother anyone. He's a human being with feelings and other such nonsense. He's only a monster one day every month. We women have a whole week when we're monsters," Lily smiled at him.

Dinner went better than Severus would have expected. It was as if nothing had happened between him and Lily, as if there had been no fight. He was shocked by it but grateful. He'd forgotten how nice it was to sit down and have pleasant conversation with dinner instead of a heavy, empty silence surrounding him or other people's meaningless chitchat.

After dinner, however, he had to excuse himself quickly. His left forearm was burning. Lily noticed it and scowled. He wasn't particularly pleased himself; nothing good ever came of being called like this.